What is Biodiesel ?
All (diesel) vehicles can use blended biodiesel, which is a mixture of petroleum diesel and biodiesel, and many new vehicles can use pure biodiesel. However, some additives are needed in high concentrations of biodiesel, particularly to address cold flow properties during winter months. Research and testing is underway to reduce production costs and address cold weather problems.
Before these oils can be used as fuel, they must be processed to make them less viscous, or sticky. Through a process called transesterification, the oil is blended with an alcohol – usually methanol, although ethanol can also be used – and a catalyst such as sodium hydroxide. The resulting chemical reaction produces glycerine and an ester called biodiesel.
Biodiesel can be blended with diesel in any concentration. The blend level depends on economics, availability, the desired emissions level, material compatibility and combustion characteristics.
The above "What is Biodiesel ?" is taken from the Natural Resources Canada's website in the section dedicated to the "One Ton Challenge", a program whose aim is to reduce green house gases.
| Mother Earth News | The History of Biodiesel |
| Historical Perspectives (PDF) | The Colaborative Biodiesel Tutorial |
Properly made homebased biodiesel has, in many instances, been shown to be of higher quality than some commercial offerings. This has been theorised as being due to extra care taken when the fuel is made for personal use versus that of a purely commercial venture. The National Biodiesel Board's ramdom checks have shown a full 50% of commercially offered biodiesel is offspec to ASTM standards.
Herein is the weakness of the "studies"; it is taking for granted the present rate of consumption as a benchmark to measure the rest with. This is an erroneous foundation as it is not addressing the level of consumption as the problem, which of course it is.
At the present rate of consumption there is no way oil crops can substitute dino fuels one to one. However when looked at from a pure energy standpoint, there certainly is a great deal that can be achieved by the use of various forms of "bio" fuels. Consumption reduction is but one aspect, wind and solar can play a big part as well as hydro (water generated electrical) power. Dependant on the region other forms of alternative fuels are workable and sustainable.
Take Brazil for example; they can and do sustain an ethanol industry based on the sugar cane. Sugar cane grows in Brazil in a perfect environment for it. Trying to duplicate it anywhere else doesn't work as well, as other places are not as well suited to the growth of this crop, so something must be looked at. Canada would do well, as would the midwestern USA and Florida to look at biogas, but rather than looking at something that would actually work they waste their time and our taxpayer cash on junk research into hydrogen. Hydrogen is a net energy loser, but biogas is an excellent source of energy, suitable for industrial and rural applications. Each step taken in reducing the use of polutant fuels replacing them by a plethora of alternatives available is one in the right direction. It is just that not all alternatives are equally beneficial across the global spectrum, so realistic assessments based on honest evaluations are needed if alternative energies are to flourish and contribute positively.
Biodiesel is great, but it isn't enough, and it cannot be expected to overcome the weight of the present consumption level on it's own. I would further say that it isn't even a good idea to expect it to; it certainly is a PART of the solution, and local area farms can easily live Rudolph Diesel's vision of sustainability by growing and processing their own oil bearing crops,either individually or as a cooperative venture, but it must stay in the local arena and not be expected to cover the wide spectrum of society at large and all of it's energy appetites.